Mexican Train
Mexican Train Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Number of Players
2 or more.
Object of the Game
Be the first to rid yourself of all your dominoes, or as many high-number dominoes as possible, in each round. The lowest total score at the end of all rounds wins.
Preparation
Place the highest double (called the engine tile) in the middle of the centerpiece included in the set (designed for holding the double and starting the trains). Turn the other dominoes face down and shuffle them. Each player draws an equal number of tiles. This number will vary, depending on the domino set used and the number of players.
Number of tiles drawn at the beginning of each round
| Domino Set | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Double 9 | 20 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 7 | X | X |
| Double 12 | X | X | 18 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 9 |
Keep your dominoes concealed from other players. Gather the remaining dominoes into a boneyard which will be used for draws during play.
Starting
Designate a player to start the game. Thereafter, rotate the starter of each round in clockwise order.
If you're the starter and you have a domino that matches the denomination of the engine tile, you have two play choices: either start your personal train or start the Mexican Train—a line of end-matching dominoes that must begin with the same denomination as the engine tile. The Mexican Train does not start from the engine, but must be set on one side of the table. Once the Mexican Train has been started, it is an eligible train for all players. If you are unable to play, see the Unable to Play & The Marker point below.
After you have played a tile, play moves clockwise to the next player. The subsequent players start his/her play in a similar manner. If the Mexican Train hasn't been started, any player can start it during his/her turn.
Play
With the exception of playing doubles (covered below), you are allowed to play one playable (end-matching) tile during each turn, if you can. Assuming you have one or more playable tiles, the usual "eligible" trains you can play on are: 1) your personal train, 2) the Mexican Train, or 3) any train with a "marker" (covered below). If you do not have a playable tile, draw a tile from the boneyard and play it if possible. If you have a playable tile, you must play it. It is not an option to not play.
Unable to Play & The Marker – If you are still unable to play after drawing a tile, place a marker (in the shape of a train, included in your set) on your personal train near the end or where the train will begin, if it hasn't yet been started. Your turn then ends, and play goes to the next player. A marker on a train signifies the train is eligible to be played on by the other players. While there is a marker on your train, you can still play on any eligible train during your subsequent turns. When there are no more tiles in the boneyard, a player must pass if he/she does not hold a playable tile, and then places a marker on his/her personal train.
Doubles
Playing a Double – A double tile is placed sideways (at right angles) on the train. When you play a double, you must also play an additional tile (unless the double is your last domino, in which case the round ends). You can play the additional tile either on the double or on another eligible train. If you do not have an additional playable tile, draw a tile and play it if you can. If you can't play the additional tile, place your marker on your personal train. Play then passes to the next player.
An Open Double – If, after a player's turn is completed, the double is open (not played on), all other trains become ineligible for all players until a player can play on the open double, which is to say the double must first be satisfied (or closed) before any other trains—marked or unmarked—can be played on. If subsequent players cannot play on the double after drawing, they must place a marker on his/her personal trains. Once a player has satisfied (played on) the double, all players are then free to play on any eligible train.
Playing Two Doubles – During your turn, you can play two doubles on any two eligible trains, if you are also able to play an additional third tile from your hand (without drawing) onto one of the double tiles. Since the other double is left open (unsatisfied) at the end of your turn, and because any open double automatically makes all other trains ineligible for play, that double must be satisfied, in subsequent play in order to lift the restriction (see the "An Open Double" point above).
Ending a Round and Scoring
- When a player has only one tile left, he/she must notify the other players by activating the sound function of the centerpiece.
- A round ends when a player has "dominoed" (played his/her last tile, even if it is a double), or when the boneyard is depleted and no one can play, and the game is completely stalled.
- Each player adds up the numbers appearing on his/her unplayed tiles and gives the total to the scorekeeper.
Subsequent Rounds
Dominoes are reshuffled before each new round. Each new round begins with the next-lowest engine (assuming play with a double-12 set, the 2nd round will begin with a double-11 engine, then a double-10 engine, double-9 and so on, the last round beginning with a double-0 engine). All trains, including the Mexican Train, must begin by matching that double.
Final Scoring
After the last round, the player with the lowest total score wins the game.
Penalties (Optional)
The rules do not cover infractions, such as drawing a tile when there is a playable one in the hand; or, when a player fails to notify the other players that he/she has only one tile left in his/her hand. To keep the game moving smoothly, it is suggested that players decide in advance how such situations will be handled when they arise – forgive or penalize. If it is decided there will be a penalty, you might continue normal play without correcting the error, but require the player who broke the rule to draw a tile, keep an already drawn tile, add 50 points to his/her score, or skip the next turn.
Strategies
- At the beginning of each round, use your drawn tiles to form a personal train in your hand. Do this by matching the numbers, beginning, if possible, with a domino that matches the engine. (If there is no tile in the hand that matches the engine, formation of the train may have to wait.) Dominoes that do not fit in the personal train remain in the player's hand as "extras."
- Arrange the tiles in your hand in such a way that other players cannot easily tell how many tiles you have in your train.
- In building your personal train, consider that it might be best to build a train with fewer tiles but with higher numbers, especially toward the front of the train.
- When advantageous to you, use the Mexican Train and other eligible trains to unload high-number tiles.
- Monitor how close the other players might be to ending the round, and adjust your strategy if needed, e.g., if you can play a double and leave it unsatisfied, he/she might be forced to draw and put his/her markers on his/her trains.
- Although it's fun ending a round with your last tile, remember the lowest total score wins the game. Too much risk in trying to end rounds can defeat you in the end.